Recycling  Processes and Energy Savings

Old newspapers and magazines are combined and the ink is separated from the paper fibers.  The mixture is ground into pulp, which is washed and all contaminants are removed. The "slurry" is flattened into sheets and re-processed into newspapers, wrapping paper, and insulation.  The recycling process takes 23% less energy than using new pulp.

The tin coating on steel cans is used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Steel is remanufactured into cars, cans, and steel construction studs, saving 47% of the energy used to process steel from raw materials.

Glass is ground into "cullet" which may be combined with other materials and melted into new glass, spun into insulation, or used in cullet form as utility trench backfill and road base.  Recycling 1 ton of glass saves 1.2 tons of new raw materials and saves 18% of the energy required to form new glass.

Used motor oil is re-refined by removing the contaminated additives and blending the pure base lube stock with a new additive package. It takes 42 gallons of virgin crude oil to make 2.5 quarts of refined oil, but it only takes one gallon of used oil to make the same 2.5 quarts.

Plastic soda bottles are chipped, melted, and spun into yarn, may become pillow stuffing, stain-resistant clothing or carpeting.  Milk jugs are re-molded into park benches, decking, kayaks, wheelbarrows, desk accessories, and many other durable products.  Using recycled plastics saves 90% of the energy needed to produce new plastics.

When you recycle office paper, it turns into new paper products.
Recycling office paper saves up to 60% of the energy required to produce paper from virgin wood chips.

Used toner cartridges are remanufactured with new parts. Don't forget to recycle your old ones!